Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-08
MURDER MOST FOUL.
The Austin Rayisher and Murder0us
Demon Again Abroad and Takes
the Life OF q Farmers Wife.
Details of the Horrible Crime and the
Bravo Fight Made by tho Poor
Litils Woman.
A HORRIBLE MURDER.


Special TO she Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, March What at first
vas supposed to be 8 case of self
destruction proves On investigation to be
murder, attended with all the sickening
evidence of outrage and brute cruelty.
The wife of Thomas Blsnton, highly
respected farmer living on Walnut creek
about seven miles from Austin, was the
victim. From the position of articles in
the house it is supposed thst Mrs.
B anton had begun 10 prepare the evening
meal for her husband, to have it ready for
MIN When he returned from the
fed. \ fire was in the
stove, frying pan with meat in it was
on top, churn with milk in it and g
chair by 1t showed that the busy little
housewife had started to give this part of
her daily duties attention. The house
fronts to the south. There ere two
rooms in front, and in the rear of one Of
these rooms is Il dining-room back of
which is the kitchen Alongside these
rear rooms is = porch on the east
side. Doors lead into the dining-room
and kitchen from this porch. In the
IOOLu liiHleuItLGlN III 1LOn6 Vi tut
dining room there are two beds. This
was the family room, and the one adjoir-
ing the front was unfinished. There is
also small porch in front of the house
This much by way Of description Of the
premises.
The theory of the officers who have
fully Investigated all the bearings of the
case go to show that the murderer must
have come by the barn, which is in the
rear of the house, and entered the
kitchen from the back porch. What
struggle took place then in
DEFENSE OF HONOR
ard life may not be known in all time 10
come. Certain it is that the unfortunate
victim passed out of the kitchen through
the dining room and into the family room.
In this apartment there WAS lying on q
table in the corner OF the room q large
Colts 45-calibel siX-ShOoter. This it is
supposed she grasped, her assailant
meanwhile struggling 10 overpOwer her.
4 shot from the pistol struck the corner
Of 2 bed in the room, passed through the
mattress snd fo0tbOard, setting the bed
clothing or ire. How long strug-
gle ensued is one of the unknown
measures OF the crime. 1t must have
been 4 fight of desperation for the left
hand of Mrs. BlantOn wss powder-burned,
gOirg to show that her asssiIant must
have wrestled with her for the weapon.
Releasing herself she must have run to
the front door at this time, as little sis
ter shout nine years of age, who was on
her way to visit her, ard who IVES COM
ing ~ the pathway from the main road,
saw her open the door,
THROW HER HANDS
above her head and then disappear
within. The little girl going on
toward the house, heard in few
moments another shot aud then ell was
still. The statement Of the little one is
to the effect that she was frightened by
the shots and waited on the front porch
for few minutes Then she went to the
side window and there saw her sister
lying on the floor with blood all sround
her. She ran over to an adjoining place
and gave sn alarm, which brought men to
the house. The fatal shot fired
struck the lady in the right temple
about an inch above and TO the front of
the ear, ranged upward, passed out the
left side below the crown and penetrated
the wall of the room in the corner near
the ceiling.
At the point of penetration the death
wound was smooth and round cut, but at
the place of exit the ball crushed q place
in the skull as large ss silver dollar.
Mrs. Blanton had only been married two
or three months. The verdict of the cor
oner's jury tonight was in accordance
with the above facts.